"Now all things are filled with light, heaven and earth, and
the nethermost parts..."

Beloved Friends In Christ Our Lord,

I humbly and piously greet you with the forth coming feast of feast
our Lord's Glorious Resurrection: Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is
Risen!

All of us within the Eastern Orthodox Church are preparing to behold
the Light of Christ our Lord, on Holy Pascha, the pious celebration of
our Lord's Holy Glorious Resurrection. The date of Holy Pascha is
on April 11th this year for all faithful and loving Orthodox Christians
around the world.

Sadly enough one wonders how our dear brothers and sisters in the land
of Serbia and Kosovo will receive the light of Christ. We have Serbian
and Albanian Orthodox Christians who desire this holy light of Christ and
to celebrate the Glorious Feast of our Lord's Holy Resurrection.

The news of the current horrific war in Serbia, as well within Kosovo,
breaks our hearts, as innocent souls are fleeing to find shelter, as estimated
more then 50,000 people -men, women, and children, are without a place
to sleep, or a place to have the provisions of food, and water? This
number of refugees will indeed grow! The lights are out in the many
towns, and in the cities, but the light of Christ our Lord still shines
within the faithful loving Christian souls who are in the middle of this
turmoil of war and dispair!

How far away can the light of Christ be extended? Even in the
land of the turmoil of war do the faithful loving Christians want this
light of Christ our Lord, and they have it deep down in their hearts, and
souls! All of us should therefore ask for a cease of the bombings,
during the most holy days of not only Holy Week, but also for the day of
the celebration of our Lord's Holy Resurrection on April 11th. These are
sacred and Holy days for us all loving and faithful Orthodox Christians
around the world! Let us indeed pray as we approach the celebration
of our Lord's Holy Pascha the war would had ended!

All of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs, the Archbishops, Metropolitans,
and Priest, around the world, as well as the pious monks, are asking for
us all to please pray for our suffering brethren in Serbia and Kosovo.
Nothing is so important for us then to pray, pray, pray and to pray.
At the same time we have the Christian right to roar like a lion, but also
be meek in our loving appeal for peace and good will, among all men.

As we who are free to celebrate our Lord's Holy Pascha, let us indeed
lift up our lighted candles in rejoicing in the Lord, but also let us lift
up our candles for all those who are suffering, due to the current tragic
times of war, and turmoil, especially in Serbia and Kosovo!

All creation has received a pledge of a new and better life. All
creation joins in our Paschal joy. All of creation has the right
to cry out with strengthen faith the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ. It's this hope the light of Christ, and this love for God
that keeps all inwardly in peace, and in the hope of eternal life.

So then, joyfully and triumphantly let all creation celebrate the Resurrection
of Christ, according to the hymn of the Church: Let the heavens be glad
as is meet and let the earth rejoice and the let the whole world, both
visible and invisible, keep festival: for Christ Is Risen, O gladness eternal.

Peace be unto your souls! Peace be unto all!

In The Love Of Our Risen Lord,
+ Reverend Presbyter Demetrios SerfesWho prays for you and with you!
Holy Pascha, April 1999
Boise, Idaho
U.S.A.